A mother of four, photographer, nature lover. Someone trying to make sense of it all, through photos and stories.

I try to be free in all senses of the word, so I made the leap and now work with what I love doing; taking pictures, storing this life in moments, both for myself and for clients. My heart is in photographing birth and motherhood, but I take on just about any photography job. (See my birth photos at www.birth.no and the rest of my work portfolio at www.mariavatne.no.)

I live on a farm in Norway with my man Nik and my children Ronja, Freja, Falk and Ulv, plus a bunch of animals. We grow our own food as far as the seasons allow it, we don't go to kindergarten, the three youngest ones will be homeschooled.

We govern our own lives, we strive for independence, we want to be in this life wild and free and full of love.

Nov 6 Weekends + a must-see.

We tend to take things slowly at the weekends, and not make many plans at all. Usually we'll stay home on Saturday, play, be outside, bake, make dinner, my Dad often comes to help on the house, I'll listen to the radio all day, coffee is drunk, knitting is done, the girls will have a long bath, we'll eat chocolate together. In the evening, when the kids are asleep, we'll watch a film. This time it was the wonderful Patti Smith documentary Dream of life, which was made over ten years. It gives you an intimate look into the world of this fascinating, wise, strong and honest woman and it inspired me loads. Highly recommended! (The book she just wrote, Just kids, is amazing too.)